You'll have a 2nd mortgage payment and at a higher rate, but at least you can eventually pay it off and maintain your current payment and rate on the soon-to-be previous residence.

Sure beats lurking in the shadows :) Personally I would look to maintain ownership as long as possible (unless I were, say . . . fleeing the state), but I would want to do that while maximizing overall investment ability. 

Is the city responsible for maintaining it or what permits would I need to level/gravel it?

@Justin Megna this may sound broad, but study every factor/variable that may have an effect on your investment strategy and specific target market.

@Douglas Spence I am near closing on a cash out refi that will actually lower my payment (slightly) and provide a good base of cash for down payment to purchase those properties while also maintaining adequate reserves. 

My understanding is that the statewide eviction moratorium in CA is still effective until the end of this month.

That being said, I do recommend using a combination of letters, postcards, and flyers throughout your campaign so you can see what is most effective in your market.

But again, its quiet, and well maintained street.

I’m stuck between choosing where to live while maintaining my same job in Austin, Tx.

Now, that 4/2 is a bunch of extra space that a single person does not need, it's just extra crap to clean/maintain/etc.